We have an incredible local orphanage, called Wajira Buddhi, which we have been supporting since 2005. It was originally set up for children left without parents after the devastating tsunami of 2004. Our donation helps the orphanage to provide sufficient food, educational materials, and maintenance, as well as special events for the children and the opportunity for work experience when they reach 18 years old and leave the orphanage.
At Christmas time each year instead of giving our clients gifts, we send over a donation to cover construction work and any other items they need to purchase for the orphanage – last year this was new beds and roof repairs. This year the money is going towards some more cupboards and a broken bed, and to build a shelter for the outdoor handwashing space, so that when it rains the children don’t get wet.
We caught up with chief matron, Dayawathie Silva, to find out how they managed during a long lockdown.
Dayawathie explains that lockdown had its challenges, but the continued support received from donors meant that it was manageable. “The only thing we struggled with was the limited involvement from those outside the organisation.
“Continuation of education of the children was the major challenge with the closedown of schools. There was an online educational facility arranged for the children with available resources, but there is a limit to our resources, so some children had to share the same device,” she says.
Keeping the children safe was of utmost importance to the orphanage, and strict hygiene measures had to be introduced. “Arrival of visitors was prohibited, apart from controlling authorities which had to align with strict safety guidelines; all donations were taken at the gate and no one was able to come inside. We introduced mask-wearing and special handwashing facilities, no cooked meals were accepted, only dry food items were allowed and deep cleaning was arranged and monitored. All supporting staff stayed at the orphanage without going to their homes,” says Dayawathie.
It was a high priority to keep the children happy and maintain physical and mental health. “We allocated much more time to play, as well as keeping aligned to a timetable for school work. We involved them in fun outdoor activities such as tree planting, gardening, and ornamental fishing, all within the premises and we celebrated world children’s day within the premises.”
